Colorado is an undisputed center of American craft beer, with nearly 140 craft breweries. And more are in the works: A staggering 75 breweries are at various stages of planning – 15 in Denver alone. This is part of an occasional series on the new arrivals.

To anyone who has dreamed of opening a brewery, the vision discussed between friends over beers at a barbecue a couple years ago almost sounds too good to be true: a microbrewery specializing in high-end artisan beers, with almost all new equipment, in an outdoors heaven surrounded by 14,000-foot peaks.

On Saturday, those four friends will celebrate the grand opening of Elevation Beer Co. in Poncha Springs, just outside Salida. The 15-barrel brewhouse, in what used to be a shell of a warehouse, is focusing on, big barrel-aged and specialty beers, said co-founder Xandy Bustamante, national sales and distribution rep.

Our new iPad app serves as a guide to metro Denver’s bountiful breweries, beer bars and bottle shops, the holy trinity of craft beer enjoyment for followers and fans. Download the app for iPad .
Next time you head for a beer in Boulder, don’t forget your friend, Beers of Boulder and Boulder County, an iPad app from the Daily Camera. Download the app for iPad .

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

In Colorado, our pint glasses overflow with excellent beer. New breweries, new batches, festivals every other week. How lucky are we? First Drafts is The Denver Post's beer blog aimed at helping you keep tabs on the state's ever-expanding craft beer culture. We offer a mash of news, event coverage, homegrown stories, tasting notes and tips to help you imbibe. Expert drinker or homebrewer? Let us know what you're loving about Colorado's beer scene. Not sure exactly what a firkin is? No worries, let us be your guide. Go ahead. Belly up and drink it in!